Mail receptacle with delivery indicator

ABSTRACT

The “Mail Receptacle with Delivery Indicator” is a device which will allow the user of the unit to visually detect the presence of mail without opening the unit, or even approaching said unit directly. There are several possible embodiments of said device, including but not limited to a unit which can be placed at the roadside in rural areas for delivery of mail, a unit which can be mounted on the outside wall of a house for delivery of mail in urban areas, a smaller unit, possibly assembled in groups, which could be used for multiple dwellings such as apartment complexes, a special unit to be placed inside a wall locker in a school, factory, or any other location in which wall lockers are used, or a decorative unit which could be placed on a desk or table to be used for personal or interoffice communication. The unit may also include a recording means which would allow a verbal message for the user of the mailbox to be recorded and played back at the convenience of the user. The unit may also include a security mechanism which prevents unauthorized persons from having access to mail within the unit. The unit may also include a protected area for displaying the name and/or house number of the user, providing easier identification of the proper unit for someone delivering mail.

This utility patent application claims priority of provisional patentapplication 60/759925 filed Jan. 19, 2006, which is incorporated byreference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices and systems for detecting thepresence of verbal or written communication in a receptacle intended toreceive such communication. More particularly, the invention relates todevices and systems for detecting the presence of such communicationswithout the need to open the receptacle. The invention also relates toprotection of such communications from unauthorized users, and moreeasily identifying the proper receptacle to receive such communications.

REFERENCES CITED

U.S. Patents 1. 4,101,877 July 1978 Rush 2. 4,154,393 May 1979 Darvishan3. 4,314,102 Febuary 1982 Lowe & McFiggans 4. 4,633,236 June 1985 Buhl &Holger 5. 4,999,612 March 1991 Cherveny 6. 5,040.723 August 1991 Kelly7. 5,239,305 August 1993 Murphy & Shea 8. 5,335,848 August 1994Schreiber 9. 5,382,945 January 1995 Novak 10. 5,385,295 September 1993McNair 11. 5,440,295 August 1995 Mercier 12. 5,884,838 March 1999 Rose13. 5,917,411 June 1999 Baggerly 14. 6,046,675 April 2000 Hanna 15.6,114,959 September 2000 Bennett 16. 6,155,482 December 2000 Perry 17.6,462,659 October 2002 Schuette 18. 6,629,634 October 2003 Simmons 20.7,025,250 April 2006 Wolfe 21. 7,066,381 June 2006 Bundy 22. 7,083,080August 2006 McKenzie Patent Application Publication 1. 2005/0253715November 2005 Awobue Provisional Patent Application 1. 60/759925 January2006 Neff

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art offers various mail delivery indicating systems, as shownin the following U.S. Patents, but none contain the unique combinationof elements and embodiments contained in this invention.

Several examples of prior art describe mail delivery indicators whichare located at some distance from the mailbox itself, such as inside ahouse. If the person receiving mail is not inside the house, they wouldnot be aware that mail has been delivered. Such devices would not bereadily adaptable to other embodiments. U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,877describes such a device in which current runs through wires from themailbox to the house. If the current between the house and the unitshould be interrupted for any reason, the device would not be able tofunction.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,612 also describes such a device, in which themailbox is gravity fed. The weight of the mail triggers a signal whichis sent through wires into the house. If the weight of the mail was notsufficient to trigger the signal, or if the flow of the current betweenthe mailbox and the house was interrupted in any way, the device wouldnot function.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,295 illustrates still another device in which theindicator is located inside the house, and therefore is not visible toanyone outside the house.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,114,959 describes a device which is intended for use inmultiple mailbox units. The indicator is not within the mailbox itself,but within the house or apartment connected with each individualmailbox. Therefore it cannot be seen by approaching the multiple mailboxunit.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,305 describes a device which has been developed as aseparate unit to be attached to a mailbox, not as a part of the mailboxitself, which could therefore be removed or damaged. In this unit aswell, the indicator is inside the house, not in the box.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,945 also describes a device which has been developedas a separate unit to be attached to the mailbox rather than as a partof the mailbox itself, which therefore could be removed or damaged. Itincorporates a buzzer or beeper which would not be heard unless theperson approached near the mailbox. Also, the device is activated by theopening of the mailbox door, not necessarily by the delivery of mail.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,482 describes a device which has been developed as akit to be installed on a mailbox. The indicator hangs down below themailbox, making it difficult to see during the day and nearly impossibleto see at night. This device and others like it which are furtherdetailed in other examples of prior art are intended mainly for ruralmailboxes, which are positioned at the side of the road, and would notbe readily adaptable to other embodiments.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,848 describes a delivery indicator system fornewspapers. It is activated by weight, and as newspapers are often quiteheavy, the system possibly would not be activated by the lesser weightof ordinary mail. The indicator is a flag style device which would notbe readily visible at night.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,838 describes a system in which an indicator risesto become visible when the mailbox is opened. This system would not workwith a mailbox in which mail is deposited through a slot. The indicatorwould be visible for a limited distance during daylight hours, but wouldnot be readily visible at night.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,250 describes a system incorporating a flag styleindicator which is gravity activated utilizing the action of opening themailbox door to trigger the indicator. This system would not work with amailbox in which mail is deposited through a slot. The indicator couldbe visible during daylight hours, but would not be readily visible atnight.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,381 describes a system incorporating a flag styleindicator which extends out from the front of the mailbox, making itdifficult to see from the house even during daylight hours, since suchmailboxes typically face toward the street, not the house. It also wouldnot be readily visible at night.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,080 describes a system in which a signal ballextends out from the side of the mailbox. In this position the indicatorwould be only marginally visible during the day and very difficult tosee at night.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,675 describes another system in which a mailbox mustactually be opened in order to activate the indicator. Depositing mailinto the mailbox by way of a slot would not activate the unit.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,462,659 describes a system in which the indicator is nottriggered by the delivery of mail but by a hand-held remote controlunit. This requires that the user be in relatively close proximity tothe mailbox for the indicator to work. Also, if the remote control unitwere to be lost, stolen, or simply forgotten at home, the indicatorcould not be activated. Published Application No. 2005/0253715 describesa system which is quite similar to that which was previously cited. Italso operates by using a hand-held remote control unit which requiresthat the user approach the mailbox fairly closely, and without theremote unit the indicator could not be activated.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,634 describes a system which is weight activated.Depending on the sensitivity of the system, small items might notpossess enough weight to activate the system, which consists of a light.This light is only visible from the front of the mailbox, whichtypically faces away from the house, making it difficult to see forsomeone inside the house.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,295 describes a system in which the indicatorconsists of a fluorescent material which makes use of available light toactivate it. The light which it creates, while visible on dim orovercast days, would not be highly visible during sunny periods whennatural light is already bright, and it would not operate at night whenthere is an absence of natural light to activate it.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,723 describes a system in which a wheel on top ofthe mailbox is rotated by the opening of the box. Since the wheel is notlarge, the user would have to walk up to the mailbox to see if the wheelhas been rotated. This would not be visible from a distance and wouldnot be readily visible at night. This system would not be adaptable tomailboxes in which mail is deposited by way of a slot. U.S. Pat. No.4,314,102 describes a system for confirming delivery of mail to a postoffice box. Making a telephone call is necessary to verify if mail isthere.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,393 describes a system for securing mail inside amailbox, but which does not indicate whether or not mail is presentinside the mailbox. The system allows a person inside the dwelling tocommunicate with the person delivering mail, but does not make provisionfor recording or playing back a message.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,917,411 describes a system for securing mail inside amailbox, but which does not indicate in any way whether or not mail hasbeen delivered.

The above prior art illustrates various methods of alerting the user ofa mail receptacle to the delivery of mail, as well as certain otheradaptations which could be added to mailboxes. The present inventioncombines these features, along with others, which makes the system muchmore versatile as well as more effective. The manner by which this isrealized will become apparent from a reading of the followingspecification, particularly when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention allows the user to detect the presence of mail ormessages within the mailbox without having to approach the mailboxdirectly, use a remote control device to activate the indicator, or beinside the building or at the location where a separate indicator ispositioned. Several embodiments of this invention are possible,including but not limited to one which is intended to be suspendedwithin a school or work locker, one which is intended to be positionedon the outside wall of a house, one which is intended to be positionedat the side of a road or street, and one which is intended to be placedon a desk or table in a home or office. Other embodiments could also bedeveloped using this technology.

The indicating means employed by the present invention could comprisesuch means as one or a plurality of LED lights, or audio indicators suchas a bell, chime, or spoken phrase, which would require the inclusion ofan audio chip within the unit. A means to record and play back a voicemessage could also be included, as well as a locking mechanism toprevent mail from being removed from the mailbox by an unauthorizedperson once it has been deposited and a protected display window wherethe name and/or house number of the user could be displayed.

PARTS LIST

-   1. Stabilizing Pin-   2. Floor-   3. Back to Front Bars-   4. Battery Storage Area-   5. Counter weight-   6. Lower Contact Point-   7. Cover grid-   8. Pivot Point-   9. Door-   10. Door Handle-   11. Current Conducting Medium-   12. Light Display-   13. Magnetic Strips-   14. Battery-   15. Activating and Deactivating Means-   16. Anchoring Guides for Door-   17. Opening for Door-   18. Light Sensing Means-   19. Invisible Beam-   20. Beam Contact Point-   21. Transmitter-   22. Rotating Means-   23. Door Stopper-   24. Suspending Means-   25. Attaching Openings for Suspending Means-   26. Alternative Power Source-   27. Display Window-   28. Decorative Element-   29. Attaching Openings for Decorative Elements-   30. Recording and Playback Device-   31. Lid-   32. Lid Handle-   33. Snap Mechanism-   34. Attaching Means for Wall Mounted Unit-   35. Protective Bumper-   36. Speaker-   37. Playback Activator-   38. Recording Activator-   39. Microphone-   40. Channel for Current Conducting Media-   41. Protective Covering for Light Display-   42. Post-   43. Stand-   44. Activating Mechanism-   45. Infrared Emitter-   46. Current Limiting Resistor-   47. Infrared Receiver-   48. Filter-   49. Current Driving Transistor-   50. Voltage Stabilizing Transistor-   51. Controlling and Processing Unit-   52. Ground-   53. Bias Current Resistor-   54. Current Supply Resistor-   55. Current Feedback Resistor-   56. Voltage Input-   57. Reinforcing Bar-   58. Screw-   59. Stabilizing Pin Holder-   60. Upper Contact Point-   61. Rocker Arm Mechanism-   62. Movable Spring Plate-   63. Hole Guides-   64. Spring Housing Well-   65. Spring-   66. Guide Post-   67. Latch-   68. Wall-   69. Latch Release Mechanism-   70. Hollow Guide Grooves-   71. Latch Guide-   72. Opening for Latch Release Mechanism

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The attached drawings show a variety of embodiments of the unit,illustrating variations of said electronic indicating means. Theyinclude views from several different perspectives, including front,back, side, and down views.

FIG. A illustrates a down view of the inside bottom of said unit showingthe rocker arm mechanism 61 for activating said electronic indicatingmeans, incorporating stabilizing pin 1, stabilizing pin holders 59, backto front bars 3 which serve to catch notes or other items depositedinside said unit, and counter weight 5. When the weight of an iteminserted into the unit causes rocker arm mechanism 61 to descend, aconnection is made which activates said electronic indicating means.Lower contact point 6 for completing the electrical circuit to activatesaid electronic indicating means is also shown. Storage space 4 is alsoindicated for batteries 14 in battery operated embodiments. Said batterystorage area 4 could be located in whatever position is most effectivefor the particular embodiment in question, not necessarily in theposition shown in FIG. A.

FIG. B1 shows a side view of rocker arm mechanism 61. In this view backto front bars 3 are shown to incorporate a counter weight 5 which holdsrocker arm mechanism 61 in a raised position when the unit is empty.When a note or item is inserted into said unit, the weight of said itemwill overbalance said counter-weight 5, causing said rocker armmechanism 61 to shift in a downward direction, completing an electroniccircuit which causes said electronic indicating means to be activated.Rocker arm mechanism 61 also incorporates a pivot point 8, held in placeby stabilizing pin 1 which allows said rocker arm mechanism 61 to raiseor lower, making or breaking contact with the addition or removal ofweight from items placed inside the unit. Upper contact point 60 andlower contact point 6 which when brought together create a circuit whichactivates said electronic indicating means are also shown. A cover grid7 made of thin wire or plastic which may be installed in the bottom ofsaid unit to insure that the weight of items inserted into thereceptacle allows a proper connection to be made is also shown.

FIG. B2 illustrates rocker arm mechanism 61 of FIG. B1, with theaddition of stabilizing pin holder 59 in place to secure stabilizing pin1 which holds pivot point 8 securely in place.

FIG. C shows a down view of said cover grid 7, the purpose of which isto assure that the weight of said note or item is evenly distributedthereby causing said rocker arm mechanism 61 to be pushed downward,allowing said electronic connection to be made, in which case saidelectronic indicating means would be activated.

FIG. D shows a side cutaway view of said unit, illustrating one possiblelocation of said light display 12 inside said unit. Also shown is thecurrent conducting medium 11 connecting said batteries 14 with saidelectronic contact area 6 located beneath said rocker arm mechanism 61.Said unit is shown as having a door 9 inside said unit which slides upto open and down to close, with said door 9 in the closed position. Saiddoor 9 could also slide down to open and up to close, or from right toleft or left to right. Said door 9 could also be located on the outsideof said unit. Said door 9 is shown as having a handle 10 to be used forraising and lowering it, said handle 10 having indented areas in the topand bottom of said handle 10 to contribute to ease of opening andclosing said door.

FIG. E shows a rear view of the front panel of said unit, looking fromthe back of said unit toward the front, illustrating anchoring guides 16which hold said door 9 in the proper position. Said door 9 moves up anddown within said anchoring guides 16, allowing said door 9 to open andclose. Said door 9 could also be positioned on the outside of the frontpanel of said unit, in which case said anchoring guides 16 would be onthe outside of the front panel of said unit. Possible positioning of anactivating and deactivating means 15 for activation and deactivation ofsaid electronic indicating means is also shown. Possible positioning ofsaid light display 12 within said unit is also shown.

FIG. F illustrates a side cutaway view of said unit with said door 9located on the inside of the front panel of said unit. Said door 9 isshown in the closed position. Anchoring guides 16 for said door 9 areshown. An opening 17 in the top of said unit through which said door 9passes when opened is shown. Magnetic strips 13 which secure said unitin position within said wall locker are illustrated. Possiblepositioning for said light display 12 is also shown. Said handle 10 forsaid door 9 is also shown.

FIG. G illustrates a side cutaway view of said unit with said door 9located on the inside of the front panel of said unit. Said door 9 isshown in the open position. Said door 9 is shown passing through saidopening 17 in the top of said unit. Anchoring guides 16 for said door 9are shown. Magnetic strips 13 which secure said unit in position withinsaid wall locker are illustrated. Possible positioning for said lightdisplay 12 is also shown. Said handle 10 for said door 9 is also shown.

FIG. H shows a front view of said unit with said door 9 located on theinside of the front panel of said unit. Said door 9 is shown in theclosed position. Said handle 10 for opening and closing said door 9 isalso shown.

FIG. I shows a front view of said unit with said door 9 located on theinside of the front panel of said unit. Said door 9 is shown in the openposition. Said handle 10 for opening and closing said door 9 is alsoshown.

FIG. J is a cutaway view of said unit looking in from the back of saidunit. Possible positioning of said light sensing means 18 for activatingsaid electronic indicating means is shown. Possible positioning for saidlight display 12 is also shown. A possible location for said batterystorage compartment 4 is illustrated. Current conducting media 11 areshown leading from batteries 14 placed inside said battery storagecompartment 4 to beam contact point 20, providing a power source foractivating said electronic indicating means. A possible location for anactivating and deactivating means 15 for said electronic indicatingmeans is also shown.

FIG. K is a cutaway view of said unit looking in from the back of saidunit. A transmitting mechanism 21 is shown on the inside top of saidunit, which sends out an invisible beam 19 to a contact point 20 whichis shown on the inside bottom of said unit. Said transmitting mechanism21 and said contact point 20 could be located on opposite sides of theinside of said unit, on the inside front and back of said unit, or inopposite corners of the inside of said unit. A possible location forsaid battery storage compartment 4 is illustrated. Current conductingmedia 11 are shown leading from batteries 14 placed inside said batterystorage compartment 4 to said transmitting mechanism 21 and said contactpoint 20, providing a power source for activating said invisible beam19. Interruption of said invisible beam 19 causes said electronicindicating means to be activated. A possible location for an activatingand deactivating mechanism 15 for said electronic indicating means isalso shown.

FIG. L illustrates a front view of said unit incorporating a door 9which opens by swinging upward and closes by swinging downward. Saiddoor 9 is shown as being in the open position. A rotating means 22,possibly but not limited to a hinge, is shown at the top of said door 9,allowing it to move upward to be opened. Said rotating means 22 couldalso be located on the bottom of said door 9, allowing said door 9 tomove downward to open and upward to close. Said handle 10 for openingand closing said door 9 is also shown.

FIG. M illustrates a side view of said unit incorporating a door 9 whichopens by swinging upward. Said door 9 is shown as being in the openposition. A rotating means 22, possibly but not limited to a hinge, isshown at the top of said door 9, allowing it to move upward to beopened.

FIG. N illustrates a side view of said unit incorporating a door 9 whichopens by swinging downward. Said door 9 is shown as being in the openposition. A rotating means 22, possibly but not limited to a hinge, isshown at the bottom of said door 9, allowing it to move downward to beopened. A door stopper 23 which prevents door 9 from opening beyond acertain point is also illustrated.

FIG. O illustrates a front view of said unit incorporating a door 9which opens by swinging from right to left. Said door 9 is shown asbeing in the open position. A rotating means 22, possibly but notlimited to a hinge, is shown at the left side of said door 9, allowingit to move from right to left to be opened. Said handle 10 for openingand closing said door 9 is also shown.

FIG. P illustrates a front view of said unit incorporating a door 9which opens by swinging from left to right. A rotating means 22,possibly but not limited to a hinge, is shown at the right side of saiddoor 9, allowing it to move from left to right to be opened. Said handle10 for opening and closing said door 9 is also shown.

FIG. Q illustrates a side view of a possible embodiment of a suspendingmeans 24 to be used in place of or in addition to said magnetic strips13 to secure said unit to the inside of said door of said wall locker.In this embodiment the suspending means 24 consists of a hook which fitsover a ventilation slit in said door of said wall locker to hold saidunit more securely in position. Said suspending means 24 could consistof a single mechanism, or a group of said mechanisms. Possible placementof said magnetic strips 13 is shown.

FIG. R illustrates a down view of said embodiment incorporating saidsuspending means 24, including a down view of said unit showing possiblepositioning of said suspending means 24. Attaching openings 25 are shownwhich would accommodate said suspending means 24. Said suspending means24 may be secured to said unit by means of a screw 58 or a series ofscrews 58 which are inserted through said attaching openings 25 andconnected to said suspending means 24. Said attaching openings 25 may bereinforced by a reinforcing bar 57 constructed of a material possiblybut not limited to hard plastic, to give added strength to saidattaching openings 25.

FIG. S illustrates an embodiment of the invention which would beattached to the wall of a house to receive mail deliveries. In thisembodiment, the delivery of mail would activate said electronicindicating means. Possible location for an alterative power source 26,such as a solar panel, is shown. This embodiment is illustrated asincorporating an electronic device 30 for recording and playing backvoice messages intended for the owner of the unit. Said recording andplayback device 30 incorporates a speaker 36, a playback activator 37, arecording activator 38, and a microphone 39. Said recording and playbackdevice 30 could be included in any of the illustrated embodiments.Placement of said components could be different in differentembodiments. Attaching openings for decorative elements 29 are shownwhich could be used to snap in a variety of decorative elements 28,allowing said unit to be decorated in any way the owner desires. Onesuch decorative element 28 is shown, but many other styles are possible.A clear plastic display window 27 is shown in which a name and/or housenumber could be placed, to make mail delivery easier. Names or numberscould be inserted at the top or side of said display window 27. Thisembodiment is shown as having a lid 31 which opens upward, incorporatinga handle 32 for ease of opening. Latch release mechanism 69, whichallows said unit to be opened to remove mail is also shown.

FIG. T shows a side view of this embodiment of said unit. It showspossible placement of said light display 12 which indicates delivery ofmail. Said upward opening lid 31 is shown, with a rotating means 22,such as but not limited to a hinge, shown at the rear edge of said lid31. A snap mechanism 33 is shown which serves to keep said lid 31 in theopen position while mail is being removed. An attaching means for wallmounted unit 34 is shown to attach said unit to the wall of a house. Acushioning bumper 35 is also shown at the bottom of the rear side ofsaid unit, to prevent said unit from damaging the wall surface of saidhouse. Latch release mechanism 69, which allows said unit to be openedto remove mail is also shown.

FIG. U shows a side cutaway view of the lower portion of saidembodiment. Possible location of a battery storage unit 4 is shown.Possible location of a speaker 36 for said recording and playback device30 is shown, with a channel conducting current conducting media 11 fromsaid batteries 14 in said battery storage area 4, or said alternativepower source 26 to said recording and playback device 30, and saidspeaker 36, providing power to permit said recording and playback device30 to operate. Opening for latch release mechanism 72 is shown. Latchrelease mechanism 69 would be inserted into said opening for latchrelease mechanism 72.

FIG. V illustrates an embodiment of the invention which would be placedby the roadside in rural areas to receive mail deliveries. It is shownpositioned on top of a post 42, but other means of support could also beused. In this embodiment the delivery of mail would activate saidelectronic indicating means, illustrated in this drawing as an LED lightdisplay 12, which is covered by protective covering for light display41, for protection from bad weather. Possible location for an alterativepower source 26, such as but not limited to a solar panel, is shown, aswell as a battery storage area 4. Display windows 27 are shown, todisplay names and/or house numbers for mail delivery persons. Letters ornumbers could be inserted into said display windows 27 from inside saidunit, protecting them from becoming wet or soiled.

FIG. W illustrates an embodiment of the invention which would be placedon a table or desk in a home or office setting. In this embodimentinsertion of a note or item into said unit would activate saidelectronic indicating means. This embodiment is illustrated asincorporating a recording and playback device 30 for recording andplaying back voice messages intended for the owner of the unit.Placement of said recording and playback device 30 is merely anillustration, and could be different in different styles or embodiments.Attaching openings for decorative elements 29 are shown which could beused to snap in a variety of decorative elements 28, allowing said unitto be decorated in any way the owner desires. One such decorativeelement 28 is shown, but many other styles are possible. A clear plasticdisplay window 27 is shown in which the owner's name could be inserted.Possible location for an alterative power source 26, such as but notlimited to a solar panel is shown. A stand 43 is shown which would siton a desk or table. Said unit could be set into said stand 43 withoutbeing attached, or could be attached to said stand 43 permanently.

FIG. X is a diagram of the electrical wiring needed to allow saidelectronic indicating device to operate. It illustrates currentconducting media 11 leading from the chosen power source for said unit,including but not limited to batteries 14, through said activatingmechanism 44, to said electronic indicating means, including but notlimited to said light display 12, or said recording and playback device30. Details of such circuitry is known to those skilled in the art.

FIG. Y is a back cutaway view of the unit showing possible placement ofsaid reinforcing bar 57 to add extra strength to said attaching openingsfor suspending means 25. Screw 58 fits through reinforcing bar 57 andattaching openings for suspending means 25 and connects said suspendingmeans 24 securely to said unit. Possible placement for magnetic strips13 and battery storage unit 4 are also shown.

FIG. Z 1 illustrates individual components of a latching mechanism toprevent unauthorized users from removing mail from the unit. Saidlatching mechanism comprises movable spring plate 62, latch guide 71,latch 67, and latch release mechanism 69. Movable spring plate 62incorporates four hole guides 63 and spring housing well 64. Latch guide71 incorporates four guide posts 66 and spring housing well 64. Guideposts 66 pass through hole guides 63 in movable spring plate 62 andenter into hollow guide grooves 70 which are incorporated in latch 67.After passing through hollow guide grooves 70, guide posts 66 areattached to wall 68 of the unit, possibly but not necessarily by meansof threads on the outer ends of guide posts 66 which can be screwed intosaid wall 68. Spring 65 is positioned between latch guide 71 and movablespring plate 62 in such a manner that when latch release mechanism 69 ispushed, spring 65 is compressed, causing latch 67 to move in a backwarddirection, which allows lid 31 of said unit to be lifted so mail can beremoved.

FIG. Z 2 illustrates the individual components of said latchingmechanism as they would appear when said latching mechanism is assembledfor use and has been attached to wall 68. Said latch 67, positionedbetween movable spring plate 62 and wall 68, is shown in position abovethe lower edge of lid 31, preventing lid 31 from being raised to removemail. When latch release mechanism 69 is pushed, spring 65 iscompressed, causing latch 67 to move in a backward direction, so that itis no longer positioned above the lower edge of lid 31, allowing lid 31to be lifted so mail can be removed.

FIG. Z 3 illustrates a front view of latch 67 showing hole guides 63within hollow guide grooves 70 which allow guide posts 66 to passthrough to connect latch 67 to the other components of said latchingmechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiment is a unit that will allow easier communicationbetween school students, or anyone else who makes regular use of a walllocker. Said unit could be used in school lockers, sports lockers,industrial locker rooms, or any location where the same person occupiesthe same locker for an extended period of time. In this embodiment saidunit is attached to the inside of said wall locker, using magneticstrips that will hold it securely in place on the metal door of saidwall locker. Said magnetic strips could vary in size, depending on thesize of the unit, the main requirement being that they need to be largeenough to support the weight of said unit on the inside of said door ofsaid wall locker. Other means of attachment could be used apart from orin combination with said magnetic strips. These means of attachmentcould include, but are not limited to, one or a plurality of suspendingmeans attached to said unit, which would fit over one or more of theventilation slits in said door of said wall locker. One of theadvantages of said unit is that in the event a person moves from onelocker to another, said unit can be moved with the rest of theirbelongings, since in this embodiment said unit is not attached to saidwall locker with a permanent adhesive. Another advantage is thatremoving said unit will not damage said locker in any way, also becausesaid unit is not attached with a permanent adhesive. One side of saidunit is open, and when installed, said open side is aligned with theventilation slits in said door of said wall locker. Anyone wishing toleave a message for the user of said wall locker can insert a card ornote through one of said ventilation slits in said door. The note willthen go into said wall locker, rather than falling to the floor of saidlocker and possibly becoming lost. Insertion of said note will activatean indicating device, allowing the user of the locker to tell that amessage is there. The opposite side of said unit from said open side hasa door that can be opened to allow the receiver to get his mail withoutremoving the unit from said wall locker. Said door could be configuredto slide, either up and down or sideways, or to swing open in anydirection. In this way, since said unit is positioned inside said walllocker, mail cannot be accessed without opening said wall locker, makingsure that no one other than the person intended to receive said messagecan recover it. Said unit could be constructed of transparent material,most likely but not limited to transparent plastic, either clearmaterial or material in any of a variety of transparent colors. Saidtransparency of construction material would allow the user to see if hehas mail without opening the unit. If desired, a non-transparentmaterial, including but not limited to metal, wood, or plastic could beused, as would probably be the case with some of the alternativeembodiments, in particular those intended to be used outside, or inlocations such as a desk or table top which are more visible to peopleother than the user of said unit. In the preferred embodiment the shapeof said unit would most likely be square or rectangular, due to spaceand positioning requirements, but other shapes could be used. Inalternative embodiments the shape of said unit could vary more widely,for both functional and decorative purposes.

The preferred embodiment of said unit would include an electronic systemthat will allow the user of said wall locker to tell if he has mailwithout opening said wall locker, most commonly by means of a lightdisplay that will be visible through said ventilation slits in said walllocker door. In this embodiment this type of display would be preferred,in that it would not cause an undue disruption of normal activities asother types of indicators might, especially in a school environment.Said result will be accomplished by the use of one of a variety ofmeans, including, but not limited to, a rocker arm mechanism installedin the bottom of the unit, a sensor mechanism installed in the bottom ofthe unit, or a system of beams traveling between the top and bottom,between the front and back, or from side to side or corner to cornerwithin said unit. In the first method, when a note or other item isinserted into said unit, the weight of said item on said rocker armmechanism will cause it to complete an electrical connection thatactivates a series of LED lights, which will show through said slits insaid wall locker door. This means may or may not include a grid made ofthin wire or plastic positioned over the contact area, to assure that aproper connection is made. In the second method, inserting a note orother item into said unit will block light from reaching said lightsensor, activating said light display. In the third method, inserting anote or other item into said unit will interrupt the flow of said beams,activating said light display. In the preferred embodiment said lightdisplay could consist of a series of LED lights flashing in sequence,but a single light, flashing or steady, or several steady lights couldalso be used. A control mechanism could also be incorporated which wouldchange the speed and/or frequency of said flashing lights. Alternativemeans to indicate the arrival of mail could also be used, in place of orin addition to said light display. These means could include, but arenot limited to audio indicators, such as a bell, chime, music, or avoice making a statement such as “you've got mail”. These audioindicating means would require an audio chip, set up to be activated byany one of the aforementioned electronic means, either as a one timesignal to indicate the arrival of mail, or set up to be repeated on aperiodic basis until said mail is removed from said mailbox. Saidalternative indicating means could also include a motion sensor whichwould detect movement when mail is deposited in said unit, therebyactivating said electronic indicating means. In the preferred embodimentsaid electronic mechanism is shown as being battery operated, but othermeans of operation could conceivably be used, including but not limitedto solar power. These alternative means of power would be more likely tobe used in the other embodiments but could also be used in the preferredembodiment by positioning the alternative power source, such as a solarpanel, on the outside of said wall locker. All forms of electronicindicating means could be equipped with an activating and deactivatingmechanism, so the unit could be deactivated in the event of an extendedperiod of inactivity, such as a vacation, which would allow batterypower to be conserved in battery operated embodiments. All embodimentsof said unit could also include a means which would allow a voicemessage to be recorded for the user of said unit. Recording of a voicemessage would also activate said electronic indicating means, notifyingthe user of the presence of said voice message. In the preferredembodiment the recording means for said voice message would be locatedon the outside of said wall locker, but the playback means would belocated inside said locker to assure the privacy of the person for whomthe voice message is intended. In other embodiments this arrangementcould be altered as needed or desired.

In alternative embodiments, said unit could be adapted for home use in avariety of ways. By use of a mail delivery receptacle incorporating saidelectronic indicating means, the occupant of the home would be able totell just by looking at said unit whether there is mail in it or not.This would be especially good on very cold days, very hot days, orstormy days, in that the person would not have to go outside unlessthere was actually mail to pick up. Said alternative embodiments couldbe adapted to be attached to a house, or to be set up next to the roadin rural areas. Said units could also be constructed in groups, to beinstalled in multiple dwellings such as apartment complexes, wheretenants all receive their mail in the same location. In this embodiment,said units would incorporate a small window in the front of the unitwhere said light display would be visible, so tenants could tell if theyhad mail without opening their individual box. Shapes and sizes of unitsused for delivery of mail by the Postal Service would be determined byUnited States Postal Service requirements. In said alternativeembodiments, said units would not necessarily have an open side, butcould incorporate a door which could slide up or down or swing in anydirection, or a lid which could be raised enabling mail to be put in andtaken out. It is also possible that a slot could be incorporated in thetop or front of said unit for deposit of mail in addition to said doorfor removing mail. Said alternative embodiments could also incorporate asecurity mechanism, including but not limited to a latch or a lockingmechanism, most notably but not necessarily a combination lock, rotaryor digital, employing a series of numbers to be determined by the userof said unit. Creation and installation of said security mechanism isknown to those skilled in the art.

Another alternative embodiment could be constructed as a unit whichwould be placed on a table or desk in either a home or office location.These units could sit on a stand, located on the desk or table, the unititself could sit on said desk or table, or the unit could be constructedto attach to said desk or table with an attaching means, including butnot limited to a hook, clamp, or clip. In this embodiment, shape doesnot need to be limited in any way, but said units would be designed tobe decorative as well as useful. This embodiment would employ one of thesaid electronic indicating means to show when an item has been placedwithin said unit. In said alternative embodiments, said units would notnecessarily have an open side, but could incorporate a door which couldslide up or down or swing in any direction or a lid which could beraised enabling mail to be put in and taken out or a lid which could beraised enabling mail to be put in and taken out. It is also possiblethat a slot could be incorporated in the top or front of said unit fordeposit of mail in addition to said door for removing mail. Saidalternative embodiment could also incorporate a security mechanism,including but not limited to a locking mechanism or latch, most notablybut not necessarily a combination lock, rotary or digital, employing aseries of numbers to be determined by the user of said unit. Creationand installation of said security mechanism is known to those skilled inthe art.

I have disclosed a useful system to enable the user of a messagereceptacle to detect the presence of messages, either verbal or written,without actually opening the receptacle, display the user's name anddwelling number for easier identification of the dwelling, and protectmessages which have been deposited in the receptacle from unauthorizedusers.

While I have described and illustrated various embodiments of myinvention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to berestricted solely to these embodiments, but I intend to cover any andall modifications thereof which would be apparent to one skilled in theart, and which come within the spirit and scope of my invention.

1. A mailbox which incorporates: a) a mail delivery indicating apparatuswherein said apparatus is activated by the deposit of mail into saidmailbox; b) a recording and playback device by which verbal messages canbe deposited for the owner of said mailbox, and retrieved only by saidowner.
 2. The mailbox of claim 1 wherein said mail delivery indicatingapparatus is activated by the deposit of mail into said mailbox in atleast one of the following methods: a) the deposit of mail in saidmailbox serves to interrupt a sensor beam traveling between two opposingpoints within said mailbox, causing a connection to be completed whichallows said mail delivery indicating apparatus to become active; b) thedeposit of mail in said mailbox blocks a light sensor mechanism causinga connection to be completed which allows said mail delivery indicatingapparatus to become active; c) the weight of mail deposited in saidmailbox causes a rocker arm mechanism to descend, causing two contactpoints to touch and complete a circuit which allows said mail deliveryindicating apparatus to become active.
 3. The mailbox of claim 1 whereinsaid mail delivery indicating apparatus is comprised of at least one ofthe following indicating methods: a) an LED light display which islocated on the outside of said mailbox to be visible from a distance andremain visible until said mail has been removed; b) a light displaylocated within said mailbox where said mailbox is made of a transparentmaterial to be visible from outside said mailbox and remain visibleuntil said mail has been removed; c) an audio display created by theinclusion of an audio chip within said mailbox, which creates a singlesound indicating that mail has been received; d) an audio displaycreated by the inclusion of an audio chip within said mailbox whichcreates a periodic sound indicating that mail has been received, andcontinuing until said mail has been removed.
 4. The mailbox of claim 1wherein power is supplied to said mail delivery indicating apparatus byat least one of: replaceable batteries, rechargeable batteries, or analternative power source such as solar power.
 5. The mailbox of claim 1wherein power is supplied to said recording and playback deviceincorporated within said mailbox by at least one of: replaceablebatteries, rechargeable batteries, or an alternative power source suchas solar power.
 6. The mailbox of claim 1 wherein said mailboxincorporates magnetic strips on one side of said mailbox to allow saidmailbox to be positioned securely on the inside of the door of a metalwall locker in such a manner that communications which are insertedthrough ventilation slits in said door of said wall locker by otherswith access to the area housing said wall lockers, would be containedwithin said mailbox.
 7. The mailbox of claim 6 wherein said mailboxincorporates an additional attaching means which would be insertedthrough one or more of said ventilation slits in said locker door,allowing said mailbox to be attached even more securely to the inside ofsaid door of said wall locker.
 8. The mailbox of claim 1 wherein saidmailbox additionally comprises an attaching means on one side of saidmailbox to allow said mailbox to be positioned on an outside wall of ahouse to receive mail deliveries, and a protective bumper to preventdamage to said wall.
 9. The mailbox of claim 1 wherein said mailbox maybe attached to a post to allow said mailbox to be positioned at aroadside or curb to receive mail deliveries.
 10. The mailbox of claim 1wherein said mailbox may incorporate a stand, either permanentlyattached or detachable, to allow said mailbox to be positioned on a deskor table to receive household or interoffice communications.
 11. Themailbox of claim 1 wherein said mailbox additionally comprises a lockingmechanism which prevents said mail from being tampered with once it hasbeen deposited into said mailbox, by insuring that only an authorizeduser can gain access to deposited mail.
 12. The mailbox of claim 1wherein said mailbox additionally comprises a name and address indicatorto assist delivery personnel in locating the proper mailbox.